The district administration has estimated crop damage across 900 hectares caused by the recent unseasonal hail and rainfall in the Nandgaon taluka of Nashik district. On Saturday evening, parts of taluka received very heavy rain. Some places were also pelted with hail. This damaged the standing crop in fields that were ready to be harvested, officials from the district administration said. The crop damage panchanama was carried out immediately by the district administration to assess the area affected on a primary basis. "As of now, it is estimated that crops on 900 hectares were damaged. The detailed panchanama is awaited," the officials added. They said in 13 villages, crops in 250 hectares were damaged by the heavy rainfall. Crops affected include wheat, maize, groundnut, gram, etc. The area affected by hail was three times more - 750 hectares. Sources said the detailed panchanama was being carried out and the exact quantum of the crop loss would be calculated after that. The number of farmers affected would be finalized in a week. The sources said that as of now, the government has not announced any help to the farmers hit by weekend's rain and hail. However, the administration is preparing a report and the same shall be presented to the relief and rehabilitation department of the government for further action. The rain and hail lashed the villages in Jalgaon Khurd, Jalgaon Budruk, Kasari, Pokhari, and several others in the Nandgaon taluka. Meanwhile, Maharashtra relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar told the legislative council on Monday the rains had damaged crops over an area of 2,820 hectares in the state and those affected will get financial assistance after assessment reports are finalized. "The Centre offers financial assistance to farmers affected by a hailstorm, but not those who lose crops due to untimely rains. We will try to address this issue." Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com